contrivance

Meanings

Plural: contrivances

Noun

• a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
• the faculty of contriving; inventive skill
  • "his skillful contrivance of answers to every problem"
• an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade
  • "his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track"
• an artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc.
  • "the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable"
• any improvised arrangement for temporary use
• the act of devising something
• A (mechanical) device to perform a certain task; contraption.
• A means, such as an elaborate plan or strategy, to accomplish a certain objective.
• Something overly artful or artificial.

Synonyms

appliance, contraption, convenience, devisal, dodge, gadget, gismo, gizmo, lash-up, stratagem, widget

Related Words

contrive